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Tit,North West Greece (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter ody
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BobbitWorm45
Well-known member
P. palustris for me
Yep, Marsh Tit - no wing panel, neat bib, no contrast cheeks, pale patch on bill
Can I throw a couple of thoughts in... the pale on the bill of Marsh Tit (palustris) should be on the upper mandible, this bird is showing some light reflection on the lower cutting edge instead. There are are also pale edges on the secondary wing feathers and the ear coverts are quite clean white all the way to the nape which are both features better for Willow Tit (montanus). Finally I wouldn't personally say the bib is particularly clean cut either ...
It may well be a Marsh Tit but for me I would like to see another image... or of course some information on any calls heard.
Cheers
Ian
It may well be a Marsh Tit but for me I would like to see another image... or of course some information on any calls heard.
Cheers
Ian
Agreed the bib isn't the neatest for a Marsh Tit, but certainly less splayed than most Willows. Don't personally agree this is a Willow's cheek though - looks standard Marsh. Am looking on a phone screen, but pale patch looks on upper bill to me.
Still think Marsh Tit.
He will probably post another shot showing a classic Willow now
Earnest lad
Well-known member
...maybe playing devil's advocate here, but I think your feature above linked to the OPs photo is actually another potential pro-Willow feature. The cap continues high to the nape even with the twisting of the head and it is very white on the right most ear coverts... Plus zoom in on a large monitor and check out where the light patch is on the bill, follow back from the tip of the bill where you can see the upper and lower mandible join, and note that the bill is slightly angled like the head...
As I have said it may well be just a Marsh Tit but there's a couple of things still not ticking the boxes for me 100%
Cheers
Ian
CARERY
Well-known member
Seems a lot of wear in the tail (compare with this bird https://www.bto.org/birdtrends2010/wcrwilti.shtml) but can’t disagree
Quite a bit of ‘bright’ light on this bird and of course, some of the ID features around the head and wings aren’t always 100% reliable... Cheers
Ian
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Earnest lad
Well-known member
The cap seems to be glossy to me but I'm not sure
Again, I'll throw in the bright light which makes judgement of this difficult. I can also ask the OP when was the picture taken? If recent, are there any other pictures, did it call? If last summer for example then it could be a juvenile bird, where Marsh Tit does show whiter ear coverts and duller cap...
At the moment I'm still seeing features for both on this bird, and the evidence for Marsh Tit can be, I believe, be questioned if you look at the bill angle and tail wear. Yes it probably is Marsh Tit, and yes, I'm probably spending too much time on this, but I do live in an area where we are on the boundary of both so getting to grips is important
Cheers
Ian
Nutcracker
Stop Brexit!
As an aside for context, Marsh Tit is mapped as scarce but fairly widespread in NW Greece, while Willow Tit is very rare and restricted, only at high altitudes. Sombre Tit is more common, but this isn't that of course :t:
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